MAHALLA AS A UNIQUE INSTITUTION OF POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION IN CONTEMPORARY UZBEKISTAN

Abstract

The article analyzes the role of the mahalla as a unique institution of political socialization in contemporary Uzbekistan. Based on an examination of the historical evolution of the mahalla, its traditional functions, and its transformation after independence, it shows how this institution is turning from a neighborhood community into a primary link between citizens and the state. The mechanisms of political socialization are revealed: the formation of civic responsibility, residents’ participation in solving local issues, the assimilation of rights and duties, and collective responsibility. Special attention is paid to horizontal and vertical political communication, the institution of the “mahalla seven,” the “Digital Mahalla” platform, as well as the socialization of youth and the transmission of social and civic norms between generations. It is substantiated that the mahalla’s proximity to everyday life, the combination of social, cultural, and managerial functions, traditional norms, and overcoming passivity make it a special channel for the formation of civic attitudes. In the context of the “Uzbekistan-2030” strategy, the prospects for the development of the institution are considered: increased funding, participatory budgeting, digitalization of local public services, and expanded citizen participation in self-governance.